Japan's imports declined 7.5% yoy in July 2025, the fourth contraction so far this year, beating market forecasts of a 10.4% fall and reversing a marginally revised 0.3% rise in June. The latest figures highlighted Tokyo’s ongoing support measures to sustain domestic demand, including minimum wage hikes, cash aid for low-income households, utility subsidies, and regional funding. Analysts noted that U.S. tariffs are weighing on bilateral trade, with reduced flows adding pressure to Japan’s external balance. Still, the softer-than-expected fall in imports points to resilience in domestic consumption, though a weak yen continues to inflate costs, particularly for energy and food. Imports from the U.S. slipped 0.8%, while purchases from China (-3.9%), ASEAN (-8.8%), and the Middle East (-18.1%) also weakened. By contrast, arrivals from the EU rose 6.6% and those from Russia surged 90.2%, driven largely by energy imports as Japan seeks to diversify supplies despite Western sanctions. source: Ministry of Finance, Japan

Imports YoY in Japan decreased to -7.50 percent in July from 0.30 percent in June of 2025. Imports YoY in Japan averaged 8.20 percent from 1964 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 106.50 percent in February of 1974 and a record low of -42.70 percent in February of 2009. This page includes a chart with historical data for Japan Imports YoY. Japan Imports YoY - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on September of 2025.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2025-07-16 11:50 PM
Imports YoY
Jun 0.2% -7.7% -1.6% -2.0%
2025-08-19 11:50 PM
Imports YoY
Jul -7.5% 0.3% -10.4%
2025-09-16 11:50 PM
Imports YoY
Aug


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade -117.55 152.10 JPY Billion Jul 2025
Capital Flows 10834.00 37522.00 JPY Hundred Million Jun 2025
Current Account 1348.20 3436.00 JPY Billion Jun 2025
Exports 9539.09 9162.58 JPY Billion Jul 2025
Exports YoY -2.60 -0.50 percent Jul 2025
External Debt 679157.00 684935.00 JPY Billion Mar 2025
Net Foreign Direct Investment 37235.00 18223.00 JPY Hundred Million Jun 2025
Imports 9476.64 9009.51 JPY Billion Jul 2025
Imports YoY -7.50 0.30 percent Jul 2025

Japan Imports YoY
Japan's main imports are mineral fuels (22 percent of total imports), with petroleum accounting for 10 percent and LNG for 6 percent; electrical machinery (15 percent) on the back of telephony, telegraphy and semiconductors; chemicals (10 percent) due to medical products and organic chemicals; machinery (10 percent) in particular computers and units; foodstuff (9 percent) such as fish and fish preparations and meat and meat preparations; manufactured goods (9 percent) on nonferrous metals; and raw materials (6 percent) mainly ore of nonferrous and iron ore and concentrates. Japan's main import partners were China (23 percent), the EU (12 percent) in particular Germany (3 percent), the US (11 percent), Australia (6 percent), South Korea (4 percent), Saudi Arabia (4 percent), Taiwan (4 percent), the UAE (4 percent) and Thailand (4 percent).
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-7.50 0.30 106.50 -42.70 1964 - 2025 percent Monthly
NSA

News Stream
Japan Imports Fall Less than Expected
Japan's imports declined 7.5% yoy in July 2025, the fourth contraction so far this year, beating market forecasts of a 10.4% fall and reversing a marginally revised 0.3% rise in June. The latest figures highlighted Tokyo’s ongoing support measures to sustain domestic demand, including minimum wage hikes, cash aid for low-income households, utility subsidies, and regional funding. Analysts noted that U.S. tariffs are weighing on bilateral trade, with reduced flows adding pressure to Japan’s external balance. Still, the softer-than-expected fall in imports points to resilience in domestic consumption, though a weak yen continues to inflate costs, particularly for energy and food. Imports from the U.S. slipped 0.8%, while purchases from China (-3.9%), ASEAN (-8.8%), and the Middle East (-18.1%) also weakened. By contrast, arrivals from the EU rose 6.6% and those from Russia surged 90.2%, driven largely by energy imports as Japan seeks to diversify supplies despite Western sanctions.
2025-08-20
Japan Imports Beat Forecasts with Slight Gain
Japan’s imports edged up 0.2% year-on-year to JPY 9,009.5 billion in June 2025, marking the first increase in three months and surpassing market forecasts of a 1.6% drop, supported by Tokyo’s efforts to boost domestic demand from households and businesses. Imports from China rose 5.3%, while purchases from ASEAN countries and the EU increased by 3.5% and 14.7%, respectively. In contrast, imports shrank from the U.S. (-2.0%), Russia (-33.8%), and the Middle East (-21.2%). Japan was unable to secure a trade agreement with the U.S. before July 9, when the temporary suspension of country-specific tariffs initially expired. Negotiations had centered on removing the existing 25% sectoral tariffs on automobiles. In the meantime, ahead of the July 20 Upper House election, the government has introduced support measures, including minimum wage hikes, cash aid for low-income families, utility subsidies, and regional funding designed to stimulate local economic activity.
2025-07-17
Japan Imports Drop the Most in 16 Months
Japan’s imports fell 7.7% year-on-year to a three-month low of JPY 8,772.60 billion in May 2025, marking the sharpest drop since January 2024 and accelerating from a 2.2% decline in the previous month. The contraction exceeded market expectations for a 6.7% decrease, due to lackluster domestic demand and the impact of rising U.S. tariffs. Imports from the U.S. slumped 13.5%, while purchases also shrank from China (-2.2%) and ASEAN countries (-11.1%). Arrivals from the Middle East tumbled 18.5%, partly due to lower energy imports, notably crude oil and LNG. In contrast, imports from the EU rose 7.5% while shipments from Russia surged 12.5%. During the G7 summit in Canada, PM Shigeru Ishiba met with U.S. President Donald Trump. Although no trade deal was reached, both sides agreed to continue talks at the ministerial level. Ishiba has rolled out measures to help households and businesses cope with tariff pressures and is also considering cash handouts as an additional form of relief.
2025-06-18


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